Illinois notebook: Mendenhall making good impression at NFL combine

Multi-sport column, with items on football, men's basketball and more.

John Supinie

Former Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall realized what the NFL scouts needed to know before he arrived in Indianapolis for the NFL draft combine last weekend.

"They need a 40 time from me,'' Mendenhall said shortly after declaring for the NFL draft. "I've never been timed in the 40.''

Determined to show he's more than just a power back, Mendenhall's goal was to break 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Mendenhall clocked a 4.45 Sunday, just one more good impression in a weekend full of them for the Big Ten Conference's MVP. He might have been the back who helped himself the most.

At 5-foot-10, 225 pounds, Mendenhall was fast for his size. He looked the part, chiseled at his weigh-in, and Mendenhall also had 26 reps on the bench press. In the interview sessions, he made an impact as a humble and personable prospect.

"By all accounts, he really impressed some people,'' said his mother, Sybil. "From what I hear, his stock is rising.''

While former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is generally regarded as the top running back prospect, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock rated Mendenhall as the prospect at the position ahead of McFadden and former Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. McFadden clocked a 4.33 in the 40, one of four players under 4.4. Stewart had a 4.48.

"Mendenhall translates better to the NFL game,'' Mayock said. "He's 225 pounds and has great feet and tremendous burst and acceleration for a player of his size. My biggest concern with McFadden is that although he also has great burst and acceleration, I don't think he has the lower body strength that you're looking for in a first-round NFL back.''

Mendenhall set a single-season school-record with 1,681 yards rushing to lead Illinois to a 9-4 record and its first appearance in the Rose Bowl in 24 years. If any critics weren't convinced of Mendenhall's prospects after he was a one-year wonder at Illinois, Mendenhall made the right decision, according to the NFL mock drafts.

Even if he's the No. 3 running back in the draft, Mendenhall could go in the first half of the first round. Nolan Nawrocki, draft analyst for Pro Football Weekly, had Mendenhall as the No. 16 pick and the third running back taken.

The Chicago Bears, who will pick at No. 14, and the Arizona Cardinals, with the No. 16 pick, are expected to take a hard look at the running backs. Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner, the former Illini head coach, first secured the verbal commitment from Mendenhall, and he reportedly would like to have Mendenhall in the Bears' backfield.

Mendenhall has left school to train for the draft in the Chicago area. Mendenhall will likely perform at Illinois' Pro Timing Day on March 12.

Men’s basketball

Illinois coach Bruce Weber is the first to admit that Kelvin Sampson's resignation as Indiana coach hits close to home.

"Obviously, it has a little emotional tie to us,'' said Weber, considering the rekindled rivalry after guard Eric Gordon first committed to Illinois before jumping to Indiana when Sampson was hired as coach less than two years ago.

It's a tough hurdle for the Hoosiers to clear and a black eye for college basketball when one of the game's top programs is accused of five major NCAA violations.

"It goes beyond (the rivalry),'' Weber said. "You're talking about the Big Ten and college basketball in general. The (National Association of Basketball Coaches) tried to make a huge push to keep everybody doing it the right way. Their kids have done a good job of staying focused at their task of trying to win a Big Ten championship. You have to give them credit, too, with what they've gone through.''

Meanwhile, Illinois (11-17 overall, 3-12 in the Big Ten) is idle until playing at Iowa on Saturday (5 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Women’s basketball

The Illini women (15-12 overall, 7-9 in the Big Ten) must win four games at the Big Ten tournament to reach the NCAA tournament. No Big Ten team has done that in the history of the women's tournament. Illinois' 55-52 loss to Michigan on Sunday assured the Illini wouldn't receive a first-round bye.

"At tournament time, it's anybody's ballgame,'' Illinois coach Jolette Law said. "We need to go in with the mind set that we're going to the finals and we're going to win this tournament.''

Illinois hasn't reached the conference tournament semifinals since 2001. The Illini haven't played in the NCAA tournament since the 2002-03 season.

In other news

Illinois baseball posted a 2-1 record after Illini pitchers allowed five earned runs in 26 2/3 innings for a 1.69 earned-run average in the season opening weekend, what coach Dan Hartleb called "the best start on the mound in my 18 years at Illinois.''